Next and break statements in R Programming - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of loop with next statement

What is the output of the following R code?

R Programming

result <- c()
for(i in 1:5) {
  if(i == 3) next
  result <- c(result, i)
}
print(result)

A [1] 1 2 4 5

B [1] 1 2 3 4 5

C [1] 1 2

D [1] 4 5

💡 Hint

The next statement skips the current loop iteration when i equals 3.

The loop adds numbers 1 to 5 to the result vector except when i is 3. The next statement skips adding 3, so the output excludes 3.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of loop with break statement

What is the output of this R code?

R Programming

result <- c()
for(i in 1:5) {
  if(i == 4) break
  result <- c(result, i)
}
print(result)

A [1] 1 2 3 4

B [1] 1 2 3

C [1] 4 5

D [1] 1 2 3 4 5

💡 Hint

The break statement stops the loop when i equals 4.

The loop adds numbers 1, 2, and 3 to the result vector. When i reaches 4, break stops the loop, so 4 and 5 are not added.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Effect of next and break in nested loops

Consider the following R code with nested loops. What is the value of total after running it?

R Programming

total <- 0
for(i in 1:3) {
  for(j in 1:3) {
    if(j == 2) next
    if(i == 2) break
    total <- total + i * j
  }
}
total

A 12

B 9

C 0

D 16

💡 Hint

Remember next skips the current inner loop iteration; break stops the inner loop when i is 2.

For i=1: j=1 adds 1*1=1, j=3 adds 1*3=3 (j=2 skipped), total=4. For i=2: break stops inner loop immediately at j=1 (no addition). For i=3: j=1 adds 3*1=3, j=3 adds 3*3=9 (j=2 skipped), total=16.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify error in loop with next and break

What error does this R code produce?

R Programming

for(i in 1:3) {
  if(i == 2) next
  if(i == 3) break
  print(i)
  next
}

A Runtime error: infinite loop

B SyntaxError: unexpected 'next'

C No error, prints 1 then stops

D Error: object 'i' not found

💡 Hint

Check how next and break work inside the loop and their placement.

The code prints 1, skips 2, and breaks at 3. The last next is redundant but valid. No error occurs.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Output of complex loop with next and break

What is the output of this R code?

R Programming

output <- c()
for(i in 1:6) {
  if(i %% 2 == 0) next
  if(i > 4) break
  output <- c(output, i)
}
print(output)

A [1] 1 3

B [1] 1 3 5

C [1] 1 3 5 6

D [1] 1 2 3 4

💡 Hint

next skips even numbers; break stops loop when i is greater than 4.

The loop adds odd numbers less than or equal to 4. When i=5, break stops the loop. So output is 1 and 3.